2016 Tenute Poggio Bonelli Chianti Classico DOCG Italy 750 ml

He had all of Italy to choose from—six pages on the wine list at one of West L.A.’s Italian institutions, packed with some of the finest Brunellos, Barolos, and Barbarescos that The Boot has to offer. And the wine our friend Roberto poured for our thirsty five-top of wine experts was the mouthwatering, ruby-hued Poggio Bonelli Chianti Classico.

Crafted by Carlo Ferrini, who Wine Spectator called “one of Tuscany’s great winemakers” and Decanter crowned the “Italian Master,” the Bonelli hails from the best vintage ever in the region (97 points). That combination of top talent and a stellar season is on full display in this textbook Tuscan beauty—and as soon as we put our nose in the glass, we knew Roberto had nailed it.

Intense and dense, after ten months in oak and three more in bottle, the Bonelli boasts beautifully complex notes of wood spice, leather, and pepper on top of ripe and riveting aromas of fresh and dried cherries. Segueing into a palate of rich red fruit, fennel seed, and freshly cracked pepper, it was the perfect bottle for the occasion. And so was the next one. And the next. 

In fact, our buddy’s restaurant goes through a case a day of the Bonelli, minimum—at $15 per glass. Today, we’re able to bring this stellar anytime red to you at an extremely un-restaurant-like (even when you’re friends with the somm) price.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate called the 2016 Poggio Bonelli “streamlined and elegant” in the 91-point review that dubbed it a “great, easy-drinking red.” We just call it a smash Sangiovese hit that’s perfect for any meal, any time. Grab a case, and you’ll see how fast it goes.

Our friend Roberto has led the wine program at the legendary Tuscan trattoria just north of Wilshire Blvd. for the last 20 years. When we visited him, he made sure just about every dish made it to our table—before long, it was laden with classics like carpaccio, pappardelle al funghi, pizza Margherita, and bistecca con fagioli—a diverse spread that could daunt most red wines. 

But not Chianti Classico, and especially not Ferrini’s exquisite red, which is grown on an estate that many prominent families have owned since the Middle Ages, including the Piccolomini clan (of Brunello fame). Located on the hills of Castelnuovo Berardenga, the vineyard sits on the clay and sandy soils, and a more atypical mix (for Chianti Classico) of decomposing rock. That combination of terroir imparts a super-savory minerality that makes Chianti Classico like this one some of the best-value wine in Europe. 

There’s a reason Roberto brought the Bonelli to our table—and brings it to hundreds of others every month. It’s the perfect anytime red, made by a master, and made irresistible by today’s bargain price. We loved every drop and know you will too.